The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-07
TYPOGRAPHICAL AND CHARACTERISTIC
The Life and Career of the Great Preacher
The Work He Has Done.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CHARACTERISTIC
The Life ana Career of the Great Preacher
The Work He Has Done.
Henry Ward Beecher was born in Litchield,
Conn, on June q, 1913, the eighth child Of Ly
man and Roxana Beecher AS is usually the
case with the younger children in large families,
be received much less attention in his youthful
days than falls TO the lot Of the first born. This
difference in treatment arises from variety of
causes; but when, in this case, the parents ere
in straitened circumstances. no other explana-
ton is needful. The anxious watchfulness which
follows every movement of the first child of even
the most humble persons cannot be bestowed
upon these who come after, however great the
desire Of the parents may be to surround all
with like care. This enforced neglect, however,
is not always a misfortune, but sometimes quite
the reverse and far more wholesome in its
suits than too solicrous supervision. AT all
events, the early acquaintance of this nth
child with the stern realities OF life, and his
deprivation of what are now nsidered the pre-
negatives of boyhood freedom from care and
responsibility seem to have had most excel
lent effec, upon his character.
DR.. Lyman Beecher's salary was but $500 a
year, and that not always we'll paid. Absorbed
IN religious work and church affairs, the father
found little time to bestow upon his children,
save to see that they were regularly catechized
and were provided with such means for educa-
ton as he could afford. With the mother and
elder sisters ekine out the small income by keep
ing houseful of boarders comparatively little
care could be expected from that quarter for the
st1oA, - 49,. 1,t.l
GLIDING Henry Ward were taught the virtue of
absolute obedience to all older people, were sert
to school regularly, to bed at the earliest posi-
BILE hour, and were impressed with a general
sense Of their own insienifcance.
Mrs. Beecher died when Henry was but three
years of ace, and the home training which made
its impress upon his. character was that received
from his tep-mother, a woman Of high
mental and moral culture, and an almost
morbid conscientiousness, combined with great
religious zeal Owing perhaps to the
unaccustomed dnties VIII lch pressed upon her in
the management Of the large family whose care
she had undertaken. the second Mrs. Beecher
was much of the time depressed and pensive.
This added melancholy and solemnity to the
religious instruction which she gave the chill
afterward cast gloom over the subject which
he was long unable to overcome when consider
ing such matters. In respect TO moral teaching
however, her influence was all that could be de-
sired, and being woman of great elegance of
manner and personal attractiveness, the i'm,
preston she made upon the children was shown
in later years in their high bred bearing.
In his schoolboy days Henry Ward gave small
promise of the later eminence which he was to
reach. He was, in fact, dull in his studies, shy
and stolid in manner, and with an utterance so
thick ard indstinct that ne was understood
with difficulty. Educational accom- modations
were limited in Litchield, and up to his tenth
year he had enjoyed only the advantage of a few
months in the district school In the meantime,
however, he grew physically vigor-
Gus and laid the foundation for
that sturdy health which has enabled
him to remain in active life and to perform his
clerical duties long after many of his early con-
temporaries had passed into the retirement OF
feeble old age
At this time he was placed in a private school,
where he made some progress. though he was
noted more for his mischievous pranks and ire
pressible humor than for his familiarity with his
studies. In fact, it is recorded of him that al
through his academic and collegiate course be
was regarded AS a humorist first of all, SO great
was his fund OF animal spirits.
When he was twelve years old his father
moved to Boston, where the boy was placed in 9
Latin school. and the effort was made. as one Of
his biographers says, to srnite the Latin gram
mar into his mind by pressure like that by
which coin is stamped in a mint. After yea,
of this young Henry rebelled and threatened t
60 to sea. DR.. Beecher perceived that some
thing must be DONE and transferred him t.
Mount Pleasant Academy, Amherst, where pres
emily he began to develop some indications o
his real brllliancy of talent hitherto SO unsus
pected.
He fell under the care of young mathemat
ical teacher who SO inspired his ambition tina
he became proficient in the study though h
mad no natural taste for it. and, as he lately re
marked, has always found figures troublesome
The mastery Of this branch, however, was
good mental training. and served the purpose o
teaching him how to study. At this time, also
be was put through strict drill in elocution b.
aProfessor Lowell whom Mr.. Beecher remem
bered gratefully to the day of his death as on
who had aided him to overcome his natural dis
abilities of speech and manner. He was drilled
also, in the management and control Of his body
training that was of much Importance in hi
aftercareer as an orator. At the close of hi
first year in the academy revival of religion
the school awoke that religious sensibility whc
was his By inheritance and the result of HON
education, and Immediately he took Upon hin
self irrevocable vows to engage in religion
work. Up to this time the goal of his ambitio
had been the navy, his scheme for runuin
away to sea having been shrewdly turned by h
father into the hope of entering II
navy as midshipman, for which D
lii